The Case For Kenny Smith(s)
By: SCUBA

Derrick Johnson, Larry Johnson, and I think
even Magic Johnson were said to be on the Chiefs "chopping" block
approaching the trade deadline. As Oct. 20 came and went, the Chiefs
were left with only one pre-deadline transaction.
The Chiefs ended up trading Nose Tackle Tank Tyler to the Carolina
Panthers for a fifth-round 2010 pick in the draft. Yaaawwwnnnnnn.
Where were the fireworks, where was the Derrick Johnson trade or even a
Larry Johnson blockbuster? Yaaawwwwnn.
Then it happened, as if on-cue. The Chiefs' brass chose not to let
the fans down, chose not to let the team down. Instead they chose to
make a move that would help the Chiefs, not next year but this year!
Ladies and gentleman, we've got him...Kenny Smith everyone!
Wait a minute...who? The Kenny Smith who hasn't played in the NFL
since 2003 or the "Gone fishin" Kenny "The Jet" Smith, NBA analyst on
TNT? Don't laugh, it's a legitimate question.
When I first heard that the Chiefs added Kenny Smith, for a few
minutes, the thought had crossed my mind. Knowing how impatient Todd
Haley can be with the progress of receivers, I began to entertain the
idea of "The Jet" lining up opposite of Dwayne Bowe. It could happen.
Why not? Is it not plausible? Could he be an improvement?
Let's look at the evidence. Todd Haley has been openly unhappy with
the play at Wide Receiver since training camp. Hence, a revolving door
of aging, past-their-prime, never-had-a-prime, injury prone, NFL
cast-offs that have dressed (or are currently) in a Chiefs' uniform
this season including: Bobby Engram, Ashley Lelie, Bobby Wade, Amani
Toomer, and now rumored-to-be Joey Galloway.
You have to ask yourself, is it that far-fetched to see Kenny "The
Jet" Smith in a Chiefs' uniform? I mean, his nickname is "The Jet"
after all, that has to count for something, right?! That thought of
"The Jet" playing at WR may not be that crazy after all. Crazier
things have happened.
Is it anymore out-of-the-question than the Raiders taking Darrius
Heyward-Bey at No. 7 in the draft? Is it anymore crazy than Vinny
Testaverde coming back to the NFL at 43-years old? Is it anymore crazy
than Al Davis?
Then I realized that the "Kenny Smith" that the Chiefs actually
signed was going to fill the Nose Tackle position left open by the
vacating Tank Tyler. Immediately, I thought this makes sense, we need
someone to fill this spot, there can't be that many NT's to work in a
3-4 defense on the market, this move seems to make sense.
However, after about an hour of online research trying to figure out
exactly who in the heck is Kenny Smith and how the Chiefs even found
this "gem?" I had to ask myself did the Chiefs get the right guy? Did
we even get the right 'Kenny Smith'? Which Kenny Smith could make more
of a positive impact for the Chiefs?
Lets check the tale of the tape:
Height
Kenny "The Jet" Smith: 6'3"
Kenny Smith: 6'4"
Advantage: The Chiefs' Kenny Smith
Weight
The Jet: 170 lbs
Kenny Smith: 303 lbs
Advantage: Kenny Smith
Age
The Jet: 44 years old
Kenny Smith: 32 years old
Advantage: Kenny Smith
College
The Jet: University of North Carolina
Kenny Smith: Alabama
Advantage: Kenny Smith (Alabama much better football school)
Draft position
The Jet: First round (sixth overall)
Kenny Smith: Third round pick (19th pick)
Advantage: The Jet
Last game played
The Jet: 1997
Kenny Smith: 2003
Advantage: Push (No advantage here, the amount of rust on the
body after that many years out of either of these leagues is equal.)
League Championships
The Jet: 2
Kenny Smith: 0
Advantage: The Jet
The Final Tally
Advantage: The Chiefs' Kenny Smith (3-2 with 1 'push')
According to my calculations, the Chiefs' added the right Kenny Smith to the team, but only by a nose.
The "Kenny Smith" experiment could prove be another failed attempt
by Pioli and crew, to fill another hole on the roster. On the
flip-side, the roster vacancy left by this unusual mid-season trade
could have ushered in the coveted "3-4" NT that we've always been
looking.
Only time will tell.